Yemen foils suspected Al Qaeda plot to seize oil, gas facilities

Yemeni security officials have successfully foiled an Al Qaeda plot to attack two cities and seize control of an oil export terminal in the country, and take foreigners as hostages, a government spokesperson said.

According to News24, Rajeh Badi said that two cities, Al-Mukalla and Ghayl Bawazeer, in the southeast and Mina al-Dhaba oil terminal, west of Mukalla, were targeted by Al Qaeda.

Their plan was to send militants disguised in army uniforms to demonstrate, pretending to be guards demanding bonuses, and then attack the port, Badi said.

Further on, they had pre-decided that if they failed in seizing control of the facilities, then they would take foreign experts away as hostages, he further said.

The plot was planned to be launched on the 27th day of Ramadan, i.e., on 5 August, but it was thwarted around two days before it.

Al Qaeda had also planned to cut exports of liquefied gas from the Balhaf terminal southwest of Mukalla by attacking a main gas pipeline in the southern province of Shabwa, the report said.

Earlier, Washington had closed 19 embassies and consulates in the Middle East and Africa for this week, citing intercepted communications among militants on plotting an attack in supervision of Al Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.